Hollywood’s Job Whisperer

It happens twice a week at Kate Mantilini’s restaurant on the edge of Beverly Hills between 9 and 10 AM. There, Madelyn Hammond, a Hollywood branding and marketing consultant, sits at her favorite table (not in a booth where people can overhear everything) and meets with Industry types recently laid off and helps them find their mojo again so they don’t have that stink of desperation. She calls herself “the patron saint of the recently whacked”. I call her Hollywood’s Job Whisperer. So far she’s met with about 40 former heads of studio divisions to screenwriters to assistants. She never advertises. She never takes a dime. It’s her way of giving back to the showbiz that she loves. “Some people feed the homeless. This is my way of being of service,” she recently told one of her coaching clients. On the surface, it may seem she’s saying all the usual stuff everybody knows. But it’s her signature Industry knowledge (she’s worked for 4 studios in various marketing and distribution capacities) that makes her advice unique to the entertainment biz.

She has found that most people when suddenly let go in Hollywood have issues of low self-esteem, anger, resentment. They fear being without an assistant, IT department, or creative services department. They don’t know whom to turn to. So she comes up with a battle plan. She insists they immediately make a business card and Facebook page (which she calls a virtual phonebook). “People have to know how to reach you. Your card is your new identity. It is the first step to making you whole again.” She advises clients to look again at their resumes. “Their resume has to tell you what they want, not just what they’ve done.” She says over and over she doesn’t help people find a job. Instead, she helps them get ready for a job. She uses the analogy of war. “It’s war out there getting a job. I’m getting you ready for battle so you don’t get killed. If you were going to war, you would have a bulletproof vest, helmut, flashlight, map, and walkie talkie. Well, your equipment now is a business card, killer resume, and bio, plus Facebook, Linked in, simple website, and, most of all, a great STORY.”

She’s constantly amazed that people suck at telling their own story. “They can’t look you in the eye. They’re freaked out. When it comes to the story, unless you can look me straight in the eye and clearly articulate in one sentence what you looking for, then you won’t get a job.” She’s tough and uncompromising and tells it like it is. “If you’re looking for a job, then be clear on the title. I don’t have time to create a job to fit your dream. You need to fit your skills into a box on my organizational chart.” She tells everybody they have to practice over and over what their story is before they venture out publicly in Hollywood. “You have 30 seconds at an Industry event to hook me in. Otherwise, I’m going to get another drink. It shouldn’t be just a chronology of every place you’ve ever worked. Think of your career like a movie. What makes you like a movie? You care about what happens to the characters. Well, make me care about you. Otherwise, I’m gonna go get more hors d’oeuvres.”

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In case you were wondering, yes, Madelyn got whacked herself when she was laid off as Chief Marketing Officer at Variety even though she was one of the best execs at the trade paper. Her goal is to get the recently whacked ready to walk through that door again. She worked with one guy, did his resume and business plan, and he just began work at Disney. “Guess what? I couldn’t have done this without you.” One time she tried to coach an exec who just kept arguing with her. “This is not a debate,” she told him. “If you’re not going to listen to me, I’ll leave. You have to be open to new ideas.” It turned out to be the best post-career-shift meeting she’d ever had.

73 Comments

Mother Madelyn • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Bless her heart. There aren’t enough people like her in this business.

Former Industry • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

“They fear being without an assistant, IT department, or creative services department.” So, these are people who CAN’T answer their phone, USE a Mac and program their DVR. Do they EVEN deserve another chance?

I have had the pleasure of serving on EPPS as past president in Hollywood, and Madelyn haD a digital footprint on all of her work that’s like a good memory in TV reruns. She’s courteous, always volunteering to help someone in the business, and when she puts a
Entertainment Publicists Professional Society workshop together, it is usually a blockbuster event that draws a packed house.

Anyone lucky enough to have worked with her knows what I mean, and she’s a role model for an entertainment publicist, period.

The only one who comes close is Julian Myers, who’s legendary and does the same, a mentor of many and a friend to all. Great article, thanks for sharing!

George McQuade
West Coast Bureau Chief
Odwyerpr.com, NY

Chubbs • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

If you’re lucky enough to capture Mad’s attention, consider yourself blessed. She is uber smart, funny, well-connected, and has the magic “ju ju” to help anyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be. Mad is the iron chef, the best of the best and I am so lucky to have her in my life!

eb • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

She introduced me to my current bosses.

Jetson • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

where do i sign up?

SM • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Madelyn is one of the most amazing and skilled minds in the business. She is also a generous person of mind and spirit.
Glad to see Deadline featuring her. She’s a Wonder Woman!

Kelly • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Yes, how do I book an appointment with her?

cyne • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Wow! I wish this article had come out months ago! I’m giving up on the LA scene and moving back to the Midwest this Sunday. But, I just emailed Madelyn and I hope she gets back to me soon. She sounds like a Godsend.

Don’t know her, don’t need her (yet) but it was just nice to read about someone doing something gracious for someone else. I may never meet Madelyn and I hope I never need to but I hope that karma treats her well.

AP • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Yes, how do we contact her to become a “client”? And thanks for spreading the word!

DB • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

It’s true you have to sell yourself like you sell a pitch. What’s your logline? The best thing I ever did was specialize in a certain kind of project and get known for that. You don’t have to be able to get everything as long as when your thing comes along, people think of you first.

lisa mionie • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

wow – how nice to read about a person in this business doing something incredibly
generous and not self serving!

i suppose Kate Mantelli will be standing room only after this article -

don barrett • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Over the years – employed or between jobs – she has always had a consistent winning smile and attitude. So refreshing in this me-too industry.

God bless

Roger • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

She’s just what you see in the picture: relentless, absolute positive energy — for others. An example of wonderful living. Go, Madelyn, go!

tony almonte • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

She is a god-send! Reminds me of Bruce Rosenblum at Warners.

Anonymous • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Madelyn Hammond is one of the good people without a doubt. I have never been laid off or worked in a big Hollywood company, but Madelyn has been the best counselor I could possible ask for. She is razor sharp, knows everyone and has incredible judgment. I’ve never paid her a nickel but her advice has been invaluable.

anonymous • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

Come on people, if you don’t know how to get in touch with her after reading this article then you don’t deserve her.

I’ve worked with Madelyn, and have known her for some 25 years. In an industry with far too many fakers, takers, and jerks, Madelyn is a total class act. No doubt she will be embarassed by this kind of recognition. It is refreshing that Nikki’s daily chronicle of boarish (and often abominable) behavior by our colleagues has been interrupted to recognize a talented, accomplished, and decent human being.

anonymous • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

I wonder how many more clients she’ll get from this post? I wonder if she’ll still never take a dime?
Good for her! This industry needs more people like Madelyn Hammond!

I worked for Madelyn for 3 + years at Variety and learned so much from her. She hired me and has been one of my mentors and greatest cheerleaders for the past 7 years. The one of the best and brightest Marketing and Branding talents in the business.

She encouraged me to open my own business and offered her guidance. Can’t recommend her enough. She has her own consulting business now and is doing fantastic. She is the queen of branding and reinvention! A true maven when it comes to the secret job hunt and navigating the industry. Plus, she knows everyone. I am glad someone is giving her some well deserved praise. Although knowing how humble she is, she probably doesn’t enjoy the spot light being shined on her with this article. However, I think it is fantastic and well deserved. And I agree, she should start charging for her job whisperer services. GO MADELYN!

cookmeyer1970 • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

maybe her take on it is hollywood-centric because her industry *is* hollywood– not these other locations you speak of.

Miles • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

You often read about how ruthless this industry is (often on this site) and it’s mostly justified. It’s nice to see someone who is taking the time and energy to make real connections. That positive interaction will touch a lot of people’s lives and ultimately make our industry a healthier one.

Bob • on Aug 13, 2010 11:36 am

The woman knows her stuff. She cuts through the clutter and BS and gets you to think about your brand; how to give it the optimum enhancement. She’ll point out how to use the tools at your disposal to properly position yourself for the next chapter. As both a friend and a colleague, I consider Madelyn not only generous, smart and intuitive, but great at sharing her advice with a panache, elegance and a few good stories along the way. It happened to me, I took her advice to heart, I’m ready to get my hands dirty again, and I’m much better off for it.